I live in Texas where it can be hot and humid. I am curious whether you boat owners with AC leave it on during the summer month, albeit set maybe to 79-80 degrees? Do you find that it helps manage the humidity? Do you do the same with the heater in the winter? Thanks for your thoughts!
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I don't
unless I'm just going to be away from the boat for a matter of hours, otherwise, I turn it off.
unless I'm just going to be away from the boat for a matter of hours, otherwise, I turn it off.
Heck I Would, if I Had One
I keep a couple of 100 watt bulbs going and that seems to do the trick. They both went out last spring and it took a couple of weeks for me to remember to bring replacements to the boat it was amazing how much mildew had started in just that short a span of time.
I keep a couple of 100 watt bulbs going and that seems to do the trick. They both went out last spring and it took a couple of weeks for me to remember to bring replacements to the boat it was amazing how much mildew had started in just that short a span of time.
AC on or off
I've gone to the same dehumidifier system used in commercial lifeboats; not a cheap option, but considering the problems wrought by corrosion, mildew, etc and their attendant solutions, it's worth the money. You can literally store gunpowder -- altho I don't -- in my boat, that's how dry it is. It even dries out the bilge. As to the AC, well, it's a dehumidifier by its very nature, but how much of a power bill do you want to hand over to the marina each month? And, a compressor typically draws up to 45 amps momentarily upon start-up. An unattended system could wreak some serious damage if something in the circuitry goes south. I have AC; I know the principle of leaving it on periodically and there is some argument that running the AC periodically and routinely even when the owner is absent makes some good maintenance sense. But, maybe the sole-purpose dehumidifier might be something worth looking into.
I've gone to the same dehumidifier system used in commercial lifeboats; not a cheap option, but considering the problems wrought by corrosion, mildew, etc and their attendant solutions, it's worth the money. You can literally store gunpowder -- altho I don't -- in my boat, that's how dry it is. It even dries out the bilge. As to the AC, well, it's a dehumidifier by its very nature, but how much of a power bill do you want to hand over to the marina each month? And, a compressor typically draws up to 45 amps momentarily upon start-up. An unattended system could wreak some serious damage if something in the circuitry goes south. I have AC; I know the principle of leaving it on periodically and there is some argument that running the AC periodically and routinely even when the owner is absent makes some good maintenance sense. But, maybe the sole-purpose dehumidifier might be something worth looking into.
a/c
Hi Kevin, I can think of a number of reasons to not leave the A/C on while un-attended. First is economics, do you pay the power bill or the Marina, either way it is cheaper and kinder to use a de-humidifier in the saloon of your boat when not on board.Also you stand the increased risk of tripping the docks circuit breaker to your dockside outlet. If this occurs while you are gone and you have a auto charging system for your batteries they won't last forever if your bilge pump has to turn on and run continouse. My dock neighbors do leave a light burning when not on board and this also seems to help keep the boat dryer inside. By the way my vessel is on the eastern shore and it gets plenty humid here. Regards Richard s/v La Vida Feliz
Hi Kevin, I can think of a number of reasons to not leave the A/C on while un-attended. First is economics, do you pay the power bill or the Marina, either way it is cheaper and kinder to use a de-humidifier in the saloon of your boat when not on board.Also you stand the increased risk of tripping the docks circuit breaker to your dockside outlet. If this occurs while you are gone and you have a auto charging system for your batteries they won't last forever if your bilge pump has to turn on and run continouse. My dock neighbors do leave a light burning when not on board and this also seems to help keep the boat dryer inside. By the way my vessel is on the eastern shore and it gets plenty humid here. Regards Richard s/v La Vida Feliz
It's done all the time.
I know owners that do that in my marina. I don't know how they sleep at night. I could never leave a boat for more than a few hours with open seacocks. I have A/C and we do not pay for electricity. But I only use it before and after sailing. Just had a thought, maybe you have a hatch mounted unit without water cooling. In that case I defer to the others and their comments regarding electrical issues.
I know owners that do that in my marina. I don't know how they sleep at night. I could never leave a boat for more than a few hours with open seacocks. I have A/C and we do not pay for electricity. But I only use it before and after sailing. Just had a thought, maybe you have a hatch mounted unit without water cooling. In that case I defer to the others and their comments regarding electrical issues.
The Big Problem
in Texas with leaving the A/C on is power surges. Everytime a thunder strom comes through, the voltage swings wildly. Thats why your lights at home sometimes get real bright for a few seconds during a storm. If the power goes off for a few seconds when the A/C compressor is runing, it will trip the breaker when it comes back on. This is because there isn't time for the head pressure to bleed off. I have a friend that burnt up two compressors by leaving them on when he wasn't there. This was due to low voltage and not a storm.
in Texas with leaving the A/C on is power surges. Everytime a thunder strom comes through, the voltage swings wildly. Thats why your lights at home sometimes get real bright for a few seconds during a storm. If the power goes off for a few seconds when the A/C compressor is runing, it will trip the breaker when it comes back on. This is because there isn't time for the head pressure to bleed off. I have a friend that burnt up two compressors by leaving them on when he wasn't there. This was due to low voltage and not a storm.
Oh Yeah
In a subtropical climate like south Louisiana you either must do something to dehumidify the boat interior, year round, or lose it to rot and decay. The mildew will penetrate the cushions, wall coverings, stored clothing, etc, and turn a nice boat into a fungus festival in a big hurry. Light bulbs won't do it. Magic absorbant crystals won't do it. You need to remove sevaral QUARTS of water from the cabin every day to protect it. Air conditioning is the only effective choice. A dehumidifier will remove the water, but it super heats the cabin in the process, causing a new set of problems. My AC is on all the time (80 degrees) , and the heat runs all winter (60 degrees). Every yachtsman I know in this area does likewise.
In a subtropical climate like south Louisiana you either must do something to dehumidify the boat interior, year round, or lose it to rot and decay. The mildew will penetrate the cushions, wall coverings, stored clothing, etc, and turn a nice boat into a fungus festival in a big hurry. Light bulbs won't do it. Magic absorbant crystals won't do it. You need to remove sevaral QUARTS of water from the cabin every day to protect it. Air conditioning is the only effective choice. A dehumidifier will remove the water, but it super heats the cabin in the process, causing a new set of problems. My AC is on all the time (80 degrees) , and the heat runs all winter (60 degrees). Every yachtsman I know in this area does likewise.
positive ventilation for mildew prevention
Since installing a Nicro day and night 4" ventilator in the head (blowing into the boat), I have had essentially no mildew . Ventilator in place of the original passive ventilator and in addition to the other two passive cabin ventilators on the H33. this in the Florida panhandle. always a pleasant relief to smell the boat upon opening it after a week or so and find its still ok. Especially this monsoon year. AC brings on much exterior condensate with its own possibilities of mildew for the outside.
Since installing a Nicro day and night 4" ventilator in the head (blowing into the boat), I have had essentially no mildew . Ventilator in place of the original passive ventilator and in addition to the other two passive cabin ventilators on the H33. this in the Florida panhandle. always a pleasant relief to smell the boat upon opening it after a week or so and find its still ok. Especially this monsoon year. AC brings on much exterior condensate with its own possibilities of mildew for the outside.
Attachments
I live aboard...and never turn off the a/c
While at the marina, my a/c stays set at about 79 degs F. I have tried turning it off while I am at work during the day, but here in Florida, it's not a reasonable option. The damage to clothing and personal effects due to mold/mildew is real and not acceptable. I am at the boat everyday, and have weighed the possibility of losing everything due to a faulty seacock or line, but the alternative is just too hard to live with.
While at the marina, my a/c stays set at about 79 degs F. I have tried turning it off while I am at work during the day, but here in Florida, it's not a reasonable option. The damage to clothing and personal effects due to mold/mildew is real and not acceptable. I am at the boat everyday, and have weighed the possibility of losing everything due to a faulty seacock or line, but the alternative is just too hard to live with.
one year plus on a dehumidifier
I've run a 3hour cycling dehumidifier set to 40% for over a year on my new boat and it still smells like a new boat. The dehumidifier dries the bilge as well. Never had any mildew; upholstery is fresh as new. I run a hose to the kitchen sink and that goes out the thru hull. The Sears models are effective, efficient, warranted and cheap. Just wish they were a bit smaller. It does heat the boat, though, but summer sun does the same thing. And in the winter months it kind of nice. Lastly, many insects cannot survive in a superheated environment.
I've run a 3hour cycling dehumidifier set to 40% for over a year on my new boat and it still smells like a new boat. The dehumidifier dries the bilge as well. Never had any mildew; upholstery is fresh as new. I run a hose to the kitchen sink and that goes out the thru hull. The Sears models are effective, efficient, warranted and cheap. Just wish they were a bit smaller. It does heat the boat, though, but summer sun does the same thing. And in the winter months it kind of nice. Lastly, many insects cannot survive in a superheated environment.
OK, but two issues...
If you want to leave your a/c on while your boat isn't attended, make sure of the following: (1) Is there a high-quality and *clean* filter on the raw water intake? If not, debris could clog the sea water pump's impeller. Most marine a/c systems are fitted with magnetic sea water pumps, which cannot run dry without damaging the impeller or, at the extreme, ruining the pump (replacement: $250+). In addition, damage to the a/c unit's compressor could result; however, most modern marine a/c units have automatic error-sensing controls that shut down the compressor if sea water isn't available (check your manual to find out whether your unit has this feature). (2) Have you made provisions to drain condensate? I've run into some "professional" installations (including two in previous boats of mine) in which no thought was given to the condensate that collects in the unit's drain pan. If not drained, the moisture will spill out of the drain pan and could do serious damage (dry rot) to woodwork and bulkheads. The condensate can be drained to the bilge, but I prefer to pump it overboard. You can use a shower sump pump (a plastic box containing a bilge pump and float switch) to collect the condensate to be pumped through a through-hull mounted well above the waterline. (3) Are you using insulated supply hoses? Non-insulated hoses will produce a surprising amount of condensation, which may drip into areas that aren't well ventilated (thus allowing water to collect and mildew to form). Insulated hose isn't easy to find; building supply chains (such as Lowe's or Home Depot) don't carry it. You need to go to a contractor supplier. Insulated hose is also available from marine air conditioner manufacturers as part of their pricey installation kits. A budget option (and probably just as good) would be to use drier hose and wrap it tightly and securely with hot water heater insulation (make sure it has an external vapor barrier wrap). Disclaimer - I'm not an HVAC expert; I've learned the above by installing a/c systems in three boats that I've owned. Perhaps there's an HVAC expert on the list who would like to comment???
If you want to leave your a/c on while your boat isn't attended, make sure of the following: (1) Is there a high-quality and *clean* filter on the raw water intake? If not, debris could clog the sea water pump's impeller. Most marine a/c systems are fitted with magnetic sea water pumps, which cannot run dry without damaging the impeller or, at the extreme, ruining the pump (replacement: $250+). In addition, damage to the a/c unit's compressor could result; however, most modern marine a/c units have automatic error-sensing controls that shut down the compressor if sea water isn't available (check your manual to find out whether your unit has this feature). (2) Have you made provisions to drain condensate? I've run into some "professional" installations (including two in previous boats of mine) in which no thought was given to the condensate that collects in the unit's drain pan. If not drained, the moisture will spill out of the drain pan and could do serious damage (dry rot) to woodwork and bulkheads. The condensate can be drained to the bilge, but I prefer to pump it overboard. You can use a shower sump pump (a plastic box containing a bilge pump and float switch) to collect the condensate to be pumped through a through-hull mounted well above the waterline. (3) Are you using insulated supply hoses? Non-insulated hoses will produce a surprising amount of condensation, which may drip into areas that aren't well ventilated (thus allowing water to collect and mildew to form). Insulated hose isn't easy to find; building supply chains (such as Lowe's or Home Depot) don't carry it. You need to go to a contractor supplier. Insulated hose is also available from marine air conditioner manufacturers as part of their pricey installation kits. A budget option (and probably just as good) would be to use drier hose and wrap it tightly and securely with hot water heater insulation (make sure it has an external vapor barrier wrap). Disclaimer - I'm not an HVAC expert; I've learned the above by installing a/c systems in three boats that I've owned. Perhaps there's an HVAC expert on the list who would like to comment???
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